"Early today, with instructions from the Iraqi foreign minister, the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow began registering those people who want to return to Iraq," Ahmed al-Sahaf told Rudaw.
He called on the Iraqis to submit their optional return requests, adding that those who have lost their passports will be issued temporary ones.
Thousands of
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...nations from Belarus since early last summer. The EU has accused Belarus of orchestrating the influx of
Sahaf said that nearly 600 Iraqis have requested Polish residency so far, adding that "the Iraqi government continues its diplomatic work with these countries in order to return these people and defend their rights."
The return flights will be free of charge, according to the spokesperson.
When asked what steps his government has taken to prevent the further migration of Iraqis, Sahaf said they have suspended the work of Belarusian honorary embassy in Baghdad.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Jotiar Adil told Rudaw on Thursday that out of nearly 17,000
Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced, Karim Nuri, told Rudaw on Thursday that the people of Kurdistan make up 80 percent of all Iraqis on the borders of both countries.
Belarus’ neighbours have fortified their borders against the migrants, leaving thousands desperate in a country they had thought would be an easy gateway to western Europe.
Dominik Musial, consul general of Poland in Erbil, told Rudaw on Wednesday that the immigrants trying to enter Poland “have been equipped and prepared to forcibly cross the border.”
"We're evidently dealing with a group of people who are trying to forcibly, force enter into our country," he said.
Media coverage is portraying the people at the border as "the sole victims of the situation," he added. "I understand they are. They are. But we also need to look at them from a different viewpoint: they are also intruders."
Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said on Wednesday that European countries have deployed 15,000 troops “against crying women and children to prevent them from getting into Europe... I cannot comprehend it. This is a violation of all possible norms.”